Whether you’re looking to get hyped up for a big race, a vigorous HIIT workout, a tough weightlifting routine, or any big athletic event, you have to settle into the right mindset and get your energy levels through the roof.
Music is certainly one of the best ways to get pumped up for your workouts. However, the concept of the best hype songs to pump you up for exercise is pretty subjective.
With so many types of music, endless artists, and millions of songs, there can’t be a single definitive list of the best hype songs ever, nor are there universalities in terms of what types of songs are the best for getting pumped up before a workout.
For that reason, putting together a list of the best workout songs and pump up music for exercise is certainly not easy, nor can it be considered a scientific process with a unanimous consensus.
In this article, we’ve put together a list of some of the best hype songs to add to your workout playlist to help you feel excited, motivated, and determined to give your workout or competition your best effort.
We’ve tried to choose songs from different genres of music and with different themes to appeal to a variety of musical tastes. Maybe you’ll find one or two new tracks to add to your own workout playlist.
We will cover:
- What Are the Best Hype Songs for Working Out?
- The 24 Best Hype Songs to Add to Your Workout Playlist
Let’s jump in!
What Are the Best Hype Songs for Working Out?
Almost every athlete has their favorite pump up songs. Certain tracks get you in the right mindset before the workout or game or keep you motivated and pushing through when things get tough once the gun goes off or the workout begins.
In fact, studies even show that the right type of music can boost athletic performance and reduce perceived exertion during exercise.
If you could see the Spotify or apple music playlist for everyone in the gym at a given time, there would probably be a surprisingly small amount of overlap in the songs.
Music is extremely diverse, as are our personal tastes in what types of songs are the best for workout playlists.
Some people like listening to rap music with aggressive lyrics to fire them up.
Others find the best exercise music is upbeat pop songs, electronica, or techno.
Some people like songs with a strong beat and a heavy bassline and enjoy rock or classic rock songs on their workout playlists.
Others find that the best hype songs have inspirational lyrics and make them want to achieve their best and give everything they’ve got.
Still, others find that the songs that get them most excited are linked with sports movies where the underdog or hero becomes victorious. And some of the best workout songs are those with a dance-y and upbeat vibe to keep you grooving and moving and pushing your body as vigorously as possible.
Overall, pump up music can make a workout more enjoyable and may give you that extra edge you need to have a great session.
The 24 Best Hype Songs to Add to Your Workout Playlist
#1: Thunder – Imagine Dragons
The repetitive nature of this pump up song is perfect for finding your groove and getting into the workout grind.
#2: Elysian Hardcore – G Jones
This electronic track features breakbeats and sampled vocals that implore listeners to get amped up for a tough workout or big game.
#3: Sequence – Slikback
This Nairobi-based musician’s computerized count-up, dancy hi-hats, and thunderous bass drops will level up any athlete’s intensity that loves experimental electronic music.
#4: An Ode to No One – The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins build anticipation with insistent and unrelenting 16th notes that eventually burst into 90’s alternative guitar fury.
#5: Holiday – Turnstile
Baltimore, Maryland, Turnstile’s hardcore anthem is full of that feeling of bristling to get out of the gates and break free. It’s an underrated pump up song for athletes that like powerful rock and hardcore jams.
#6: Dark Horse – Converge
Metalcore legends Converge unleash searing guitar leads and lyrics that will bolster anyone feeling like a Dark Horse, wherever you’re seeded in the race.
#7: Pink Diamond – Charli XCX
The queen of hyper-pop perseverates on the lyric, “I just wanna go real hard, pink diamond in the dark.” The track goes hard for sure, motivating you to do the same.
#8: EMPD 2 – Nas
With features from EMPD and Eminem, this hip-hop track is downright athletic and is a great pump up song to keep you grinding when your workout gets tough, and your energy starts waning.
#9: Shield for Your Eyes, a Beast in the Well on Your Hand – Melt-Banana
Japanese noise-rock band Melt-Banana comes through with screeching guitars and vocals and alternates between thumping and video-game chaos.
It’s certainly different from most mainstream workout songs, but branching out on your exercise playlist might be just what you need to take your workout to the next level.
#10: Phoenix IV: Levitation – Night Verses
This pummeling track from post-rock virtuoso Night Verses will appeal to any fan of instrumental djent or jaw-dropping drumming. It’s a great motivating workout song for pounding out a hard indoor cycling workout where you need to settle into a fast and hard cadence.
#11: Legend Has It – Run the Jewels
“Step into the spotlight” with this hip-hop track that just might leave you breathless.
#12: Put Up a Fight – Kicked in the Head
Back from the dead, ska punk band Kicked in the Head asks, “will you put up a fight, will you put up a fight?” to the sound of triumphant trombones and blistering guitar riffs.
This workout song dares you not to quit, the power anthem everyone needs when the workout turns difficult.
#13: Killing in the Name – Rage Against the Machine
While the political undertones of its lyrics are often forgotten, the song’s repetitions of ” . . . I won’t do what you tell me” has become a meme well-suited for the competitive athlete.
#14: Battery – Metallica
Packed full of thrash energy, this album-opener of Master of Puppets has all the intensity and riffage anyone could want while “smashing through the boundaries.”
#15: Shook – Tkay Maidza
This uber-confident hip-hop banger from Zimbabwean-born Australian rapper Tkay Maidza will leave the competition “shook.” You’ll love the beat, whether you’re pedaling your heart out, running as fast as you can, or lifting weights you never dreamed you could even handle for one rep.
#16: Sold Out – Hardy
This country track is all about staying true to yourself throughout your success.
The guitar builds will raise the hair on the back of your neck and have you singing and screaming along.
#17: Till I Collapse – Eminem
Almost every list of the best pump up songs for workouts includes this popular rap track.
From the very beginning, the lyrics challenge you to keep going: “’Cause sometimes you just feel tired, feel weak, and when you feel weak, you feel like you wanna just give up. But you got to search within you and try to find that inner strength.”
#18: Lightning Bolts – Deep Sea Diver
This pop-rock gem is as catchy as it is invigorating and as full of electricity as its title would suggest.
#19: Wake Me Up – Avicii
This popular track is a good song for your workout playlist due to the catchy beat, and the song seems to fly by, helping pass those minutes on your cardio machine.
#20: Girl On Fire – Alicia Keys
This is a great power anthem for ladies looking to kill their workouts. You will feel like you, too, are on fire.
#21: The Disconnect – Counterparts
“The line that separates the weak from us who truly care is one I don’t intend to cross,” and other lyrics straight from the heart adorn the energetic guitar parts and walloping rhythm section from Canadian melodic hardcore band Counterparts.
You’ll feel invigorated and ready to conquer your workout.
#22: I Am King – Code Orange
This track opens with an ominous and menacing alarm.
If you survive the turbulent noise and crushing hardcore riffs that follow, you’ll find yourself thinking, “In a world of servants and liars and spies, I AM KING.”
#23: Chariots Of Fire Theme Song – Vangelis
Every runner who has seen Chariots of Fire can’t help but run their heart out when this running song comes on!
#24: Trojans – The Algorithm
This instrumental electronic track features guitar samples and dizzying rhythms, endlessly glitchy ear candy, and arpeggiated synths patterns, as well as four-on-the-floor dance sections.
It makes you want to keep moving, so it’s a great invigorating song for cardio workouts.
What are your go-to pump up songs and favorite tracks on your workout playlist? How do you discover new music for your workouts? Let us know!
Check out our article, The 70 All-Time Best Running Songs, to find some more tracks to add to your playlists.
